Port of Oakland: 2017 busiest year in 90-year history

Cargo volume of 2.42 million containers breaks previous record set in 2014

Press Releases, Seaport

January 11th, 2018

Oakland, Calif. - Jan. 11, 2018: The Port of Oakland reported today that 2017 was the busiest year in its 90-year history. The Port said it handled the equivalent of 2.42 million 20-foot containers last year. That broke the previous record of 2.39 million containers set in 2014.
The Port said it broke two more records in 2017 with 919,523 loaded import containers and 1.85 million combined imports and exports. The port said import growth drove its record performance. It reported that imports increased 4 percent in 2017 over 2016 totals. December imports were up 6.4 percent over the same month in 2016.

The Port attributed the import rally to a strong U.S. economy and increasing consumer demand for retail products.

“Our record-setting 2017 has set the stage for the future,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director John Driscoll. “With new development projects already underway, we expect to increase our capacity and drive greater volume.”

The Port said it expects Cool Port Oakland – a 280,000 square-foot temperature-controlled distribution center – to open late summer. It projects that the clearinghouse for agricultural exports will handle about 30,000 containers full of chilled and frozen meat products annually. The Port said work on its 440,000-square-foot Seaport Logistics Complex could begin by spring.

For more details about the Port of Oakland’s monthly container statistics, please click here.

About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.